BillBarksdaleRealEstateJournal&Thoughts About Life

                                                                 Real Journal

                                            WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE (WUI)
                                                 By Bill Barksdale, GRI Realtor®

Wildland Urban Interface – WUI - areas are essentially where natural forest and grassland areas meet areas developed for human occupation. In California we are experiencing a new phenomenon, a year-round fire season. Many decades of fire suppression combined with the expansion of residential development, sustained drought exasperated by global climate change, and poor forest management practices, are proving to be a deadly and dangerous combination.

We humans have an interesting relationship with fire. As an architype it represents destruction, rebirth (think of the phoenix rising from the ashes), change, punishment for transgression, purification, transformation. Fire consumes the old and dying and transforms it into fertile ground for new growth – both figuratively and literally.

Fire is an Elemental Force of life, like water, air (think wind) and the planet earth itself (think earthquakes and the fertile soil that sustains us). Without fire we could not survive. Each of these elements supports life but each is a fickle partner that will have its way, so treat each with respect. Disrespect any of them and we will not survive. We cannot control the force of fire. We can only try to understand fire and work with it.

2018 turned out to be one of the most deadly, destructive fire years on record in California - so far. With a population of more than 39 million people, California is far and away the most populous state in the U.S. As our population expands even more, people are gobbling up more wildland areas. Native wildlife is being displaced and demonized because they exist where they have always lived, as humans encroach and treat the planet in a disrespectful, ignorant manner.

Dare I say it, it’s almost as if human beings are becoming a cancer destroying the very environment on which we all depend. When I was a young man in the “hippy” 70’s there was a famous poster showing the earth with every square inch covered by humans desperately clinging to the planet as they suffered from the effects of over-population. I don’t see this poster anymore. Perhaps it’s too frighteningly real.

Well, what can I say? Common sense tells us that unrestrained population growth and development is not sustainable. If you find yourself getting angry about that statement, you may be living in a toxic fog of denial over the obvious.

I’m no better than anyone else. I’ve lived in the forest, and as I stand almost anywhere in California, Oregon, Washington and many other states and areas, all I have to do is turn 360 degrees to see forest and grassland areas, the WUI.

I find myself living in a WUI, and I love where I live. My Willits community is like a large, extended family. I don’t want to live in a big city. Many of us who live here feel a sense of belonging. What to do?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggests that we make a concerted effort to reduce the fuel load and that we educate ourselves on a large community-wide process of fire safety standards and aware-action.

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA

Solutions include: Wiser use of land as we plan residential development. How can we develop homes on less land? We need to look at outdated and short-sighted zoning regulations that encourage urban-type sprawl, in favor of more efficient smaller houses and density. This type of development encourages wiser and more cost-efficient use of shared resources like water, sewage disposal and food production.

Shaded fuel breaks are areas surrounding human habitat where brushy undergrowth in nearby woodland areas are thinned to reduce flammable vegetation that quickly spreads fire. Fire roads through these areas allow fire-fighting vehicles to enter and those in the path of quick-moving fires to evacuate. These all need to be maintained regularly or they overgrow again and become ineffective.

A good resource to check on the internet is https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/health-human-servicesagency/public-health/disaster-preparedness-and-response. 

Fire is not the only emergency we need to prepare for of course. We live in earthquake country and fires often go hand-in-hand with earthquakes.

I’ve said before and I’ll repeat now, always have a Grab-And-Go bag packed with essentials, one for each member of the family, including the pets. If you only have one minute to get out of the house and into your vehicle, grab this bag and go. Forget the non-essential’s. Saving lives is the point here. Make sure you have cash in the bag as well as meds and
eye glasses. If you have a few extra minutes pack some food like dry cereal, water, toilet paper, flashlight & batteries.

Look at the above site or some of my old articles for more of what to take.
This is important. Don’t ignore. Talk with neighbors and create a Neighborhood / Community Emergency Response Plan. Even if you can only get one neighbor to talk with you initially – Do It! Identify neighbors who are elderly and disabled. Check on them. Go on the internet and Google Community Emergency Response. There are a lot of sites. Just pick one and read it – then act!

Many of you reading this article are too young to remember the Oakland Hills Firestorm of 1991. Look it up and learn. People were not prepared and they died where they stood. The recent fires in Paradise, Santa Rosa, Lake County and right here in Mendocino County are warning enough. Same thing happened.

A firestorm can easily move at 20 miles per hour, even faster when the wind in blowing.
Plan now your evacuation routes. Identify multiple escape routes. Where will you go if you’re being chased by a fast moving fire? As you’re driving away, call a pre-designated person out of the area that everyone you know can call to check in with. Plan now with your household members where you will meet in case you are separated.Wear natural fabric clothes if possible. Plastic clothes melt and burn faster.

There’s way too much to include in one article so take responsibility for yourself. We all live in a WUI. Inform yourself, prepare for it, practice, communicate with each other - and survive.